Origin
Upper Alton, IL
Late night in Upper Alton on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Upper Alton, IL to Decatur, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
104.9 mi
169 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Upper Alton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Decatur, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Upper Alton, IL to Decatur, IL is 104.9 miles and takes about 2h 20m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. The drive is a mixed bag, offering a practical connection between these two points without extensive detours. It's a straightforward journey for anyone needing to get from one city to the other efficiently. Consider this a solid option for a quick, single-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.4 miles from Upper Alton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 32.8 mi | 35m |
| Jaycee Drive | 18.4 mi | 22m |
| North Railroad Avenue | 12.9 mi | 15m |
| Sarpy Street | 12.2 mi | 21m |
| State Route 140 | 9.7 mi | 13m |
| North 22nd Avenue | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| College Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| West Bethalto Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 32.8 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Alton, IL and Decatur, IL.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn left onto IL 140
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
College Avenue
3
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Macarthur Drive
4
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West MacArthur Drive
5
Continue on IL 140
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Bethalto Drive
6
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 140
7
Continue on IL 140
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
8
Continue on IL 140
443 ft
·
13 sec
·
State Route 140
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
10
Merge onto I 55
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 55
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
12
Keep slight right at fork
147 ft
·
2 sec
Toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
13
Turn straight onto IL 48; IL 127
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
North 22nd Avenue
14
Continue on IL 48
12 mi
·
21 min
·
Sarpy Street
15
Continue on IL 48
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
County Road 975 N
16
Continue on IL 48
18 mi
·
22 min
·
Jaycee Drive
17
Continue on IL 48
13 mi
·
15 min
·
North Railroad Avenue
18
Turn right onto IL 105
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West South Side Drive
19
Turn slight left onto IL 105
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 105
20
Turn left onto East Wood Street
507 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Wood Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Wood Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 20 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. You could depart anytime in the morning and still have plenty of daylight to reach Decatur. With only 104.9 miles and an estimated fuel cost of $16, you won't need to worry excessively about frequent fuel stops, though it's always wise to start with a full tank. The longest stretch is under 33 miles, so you can break up the drive with short rests as needed. Pay attention to the transition from I 55 to local roads as you near Decatur, as this often requires a slight adjustment in driving style.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.4 miles from Upper Alton, IL, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Upper Alton, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Upper Alton, IL
This is one driving day of about 104.9 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Upper Alton, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 32.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.4 miles from Upper Alton, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 104.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IL 140 / College Avenue
Turn left onto IL 140 / College Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
17.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
51 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hil...
6
51.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hil...
4
104.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
East Wood Street
Turn left onto East Wood Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.40 one way
$32.80 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.01 | $36.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.19 | $40.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.16 | $46.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.01 | $5.04 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.18 | $4.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42 | 0 | $14.69 | $6.71 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Decatur, IL
Late night in Decatur on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 20m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 79.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 42% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your drive on faster roads like I 55. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.8 miles on I 55, providing a solid period of consistent travel. Beyond the interstate, expect sections on Jaycee Drive and North Railroad Avenue, which will offer a different driving experience. The 'mixed drive' profile suggests a transition between higher-speed travel and potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.8 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near IL 140 / College Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Upper Alton, IL to Decatur, IL is easy. At 2h 20m with 42% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (IL 140 / College Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 51 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Upper Alton, IL and Decatur, IL, road signs point toward Taylorville and Hillsboro.
Taylorville
51 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Hillsboro
51 mi in
|
~1h 4m
About the Cities
Arriving in Decatur, IL
Full guide →Founded 1823
Decatur is a city in Macon county, Illinois. There are many examples of Frank Lloyd Wright's influence on the Prairie Style Architecture in Decatur.
Top landmarks
- • Decatur Downtown Historic District — historic district in Decatur, Illinois
- • Decatur Historic District — historic district in Decatur, Illinois
- • Wabash Railroad Station and Railway Express Agency — railway station in Decatur, Illinois, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 104.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.8 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (IL 140 / College Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 51 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Decatur, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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